Still Biking Strong After Bike to Work Day

As many as 100,000 people pedaled their way to work yesterday for 511’s 13th annual Bike to Work Day.

The South Bay kicked off the event with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s CEO/Celebrity Bike to Work Day Challenge, and I was happy to join fellow elected officials, media columnists, and local business leaders on a ride through downtown San Jose.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has been promoting Bike to Work Day to show Bay Area residents alternatives to their daily commutes on local freeways. As Santa Clara County’s representative on the commission, I have worked to reduce commute times and find environmentally friendly ways to get to work. Be sure to check out the photos of the event to see who biked to work in your neighborhood.

Last night, I stopped by the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition’s “Bike Away From Work Bash” at Gordon Biersch in downtown San Jose. I had a chance to relax after a long day of biking with refreshments and a silent auction to support bicycling as an everyday means of transportation.
I am still going strong in the Team Bike Challenge, so even after yesterday’s events, I jumped on my bike this morning and headed to my office.

After biking to work today, I pinned a green ribbon onto my lapel to commemorate Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Supervisor Liz Kniss and I presented Lance Toma of the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center and Dena Dickinson, co-chair of the HIV Planning Council, with an official proclamation from the county to show our support for an important issue.

HIV/AIDS affects all communities, and we need to everything we can educate all our residents about the disease. The official awareness day is tomorrow, but we decided to hold an event at the County Government Center today and feature many organizations and performers that support the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

A Healthy Lifestyle for Years to Come

As I biked home yesterday, I stopped at a traffic light next to a fellow bicyclist, who lives in west San Jose and works downtown. We chatted for a few minutes, and he told me how he bikes to work every morning.

At 60 years young, he said he was in the best shape of his life, which made me want to pedal my bike even faster so I could say the same when I am older.

Even though people’s schedules seem to be more packed than ever, finding the time to exercise is important. One important aspect of Bike to Work Day is to encourage people who don’t normally use their bicycles to make a simple lifestyle adjustment and transform the commute to work into a healthy workout.

Even if biking isn’t a favorite activity, there are other ways to exercise. One county employee said she walks to work one day every week. Her schedule makes it difficult for her to walk every day, but she finds one day every week that is flexible to allow exercise.

Many companies provide showers and lockers for their employees to encourage healthy lifestyles. I have used the shower at the County Government Center more times than I can count after going for jogs. When I biked to the Valley Transportation Authority’s headquarters, I was happy to find that they offer lockers and showers. These types of amenities make exercising during the workday a lot easier.

Healthy Biking

The average person burns about 100 calories an hour sitting in the driver’s seat during a morning or evening commute. The average bicyclist, on the other hand, can burn more than 800 calories in an hourlong bike ride.

An important aspect of Bike to Work Month is the health benefit of daily exercise. Even though I have run about three-dozen marathons, I am still getting a workout from all the biking I’ve been doing.

Cycling is a cardio workout, which promotes heart and circulatory health. Riding a bicycle rather than driving can improve the circulation of blood, which can lower your blood pressure.

Cycling can also boost your metabolism and increase your muscle strength. Biking early in the morning can help you maintain a higher metabolism rate throughout the entire day.

As I continue to bike, I notice that it is easier to maintain my pace for the entire ride. This morning, I biked to a meeting with Santa Clara City Councilmember Joe Kornder. Joe and I discussed ways for the City of Santa Clara and Santa Clara County to work together on programs for our community.

I’ve even been biking on the weekends. On Sunday, I took a ride to the grocery store. For every trip that I can use my bike as an alternative to my car, I gain another opportunity to incorporate exercise into my busy schedule.